'We are Christian and we love you' - Family in Lebanon leaves note for IDF soldiers

A surprising sight greeted a group of Israeli soldiers operating in southern Lebanon upon entering a house in one of the villages there. 

Soldiers from the 9260th Reserve Battalion entered one of the homes and discovered a personal letter left for them by local Christian residents who had evacuated the area after receiving warnings of potential IDF strikes in the area. 

The letter, which was hand-written in English, and shared online by Israeli journalist Yonatan Gottlieb, reveals a glimpse into the complex attitudes of the civilian population in southern Lebanon regarding the presence of the terrorist organization Hezbollah and the IDF. 

The letter presents a direct and unusual appeal to IDF soldiers, who are currently conducting operations to find and destroy Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon. 

“Hello Dear,” the letter begins. “We are Christian, and we love you and we thank you for empty [sic] Lebanon from the yellow. (An apparent reference to the Hezbollah organization’s yellow flag and headbands.)” 

The letter also contained a direct plea to the fighters to preserve their home, in an area where the IDF has destroyed many houses and buildings, after finding terror infrastructure or weapons within. 

“Please keep our houses, because no help us to renewed [sic], the letter continued. “We have children, we have no money, and now we need to leave safe. Please let us back. Thank you.” 

נכנסו לבית בפאתי כפר בלבנון. זה המכתב שחיכה לנו. ״אנחנו נוצרים, אנחנו אוהבים אתכם ומודים לכם על ריקון לבנון מהצהובים (חיזבאללה). בבקשה שמרו על הבתים שלנו, כי אף אחד לא עוזר לנו לשקם אותם. יש לנו ילדים ואין לנו כסף, ועכשיו אנחנו צריכים לעזוב״. גדוד 9260 של תותחנים שומר על הבית 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/dlau7Wx7uG

— יהונתן גוטליב (@yonatanGottlieb) June 8, 2026

These note reflects the dire situation of many Lebanese citizens, who have had to flee the area, following IDF evacuation orders, and now fear for the fate of their homes and property as a result of the fighting between Hezbollah and the IDF. 

Many of southern Lebanon’s citizens are Christian. Most of the Christian population are distrustful of Hezbollah, seeing the terror organization as an Iranian proxy, which has plunged their country into conflicts wars with Israel. 

The appeal also highlights the complex situation within Lebanon, a country made up of various religious communities, including various Christian denominations, Sunnis, Shiites, and Druze. Christians make up between 30-40% of the population of Lebanon. 

As Hezbollah has increased its hold on the country, with its political and military arms often described by analysts as a “state within a state,” many communities - most notably the Christian community - have felt that the Shiite organization has subjected the country to Iranian interests. 

Following Israel’s successes against Hezbollah, some Christians in Lebanon have accused the terror organization of destroying their security, turning their villages and cities into military targets through the presence of rocket launchers and weapons depots. 

At the same time, the publication of the letter comes against the backdrop of a number of disciplinary incidents involving IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon. There was international outcry in April, after video of a soldier destroying a statue of Jesus in the Christian village of Debel, near the Hezbollah fortress of Bint Jbeil was shared on social media. 

That act drew widespread condemnation from senior political and military officials, who defined it as a violation of IDF values ​​and religious freedom. Following the incident, the fighter and the soldier who filmed the act were removed from active duty and sentenced to 30 days in prison.